Fitness is important for a happy and healthy life that feels like a blessing. There are plenty of ways to get exercise without stretching your wallet thin. Start by looking for free activities you enjoy. Check if your community has free exercise classes or open gym time. At home, bodyweight exercises and yoga require no equipment.
Mix it up with affordable exercise videos online. Many YouTube channels offer full-length workouts for free. Invest in just a few basic items like hand weights or resistance bands. Having a poor credit history can make qualifying for loans very difficult.
However, some options are there, like very bad credit loans from direct lenders. These alternative lenders look beyond your credit score alone. They could provide funds to cover expenses and rebuild your credit responsibly.
Getting in shape doesn’t have to put a massive dent in your wallet if you get smart about managing your finances. At the end of the day, if you make physical and mental health an actual priority when you’re reviewing expenses each month, you can absolutely find a way to invest in your fitness without going broke. A little financial mindfulness goes a long way.
Home Workouts
You don’t have to fork over loads of cash for an expensive gym. Working out at home is totally doable on a tight budget. Just clear out some open space and clank up your motivation!
Bodyweight Exercises
These types of exercises are the real bang for your buck – they’re 100% free! I’m talking pushups, squats, lunges, planks all those good compound moves that work your entire body. Zero equipment is required other than your own body weight.
Free Workout Videos Online
The internet provides an endless supply of free workout material. YouTube has thousands of full-length videos for cardio, strength, yoga, you name it. Many trainers even offer whole workout programs for free.
Minimal Equipment Needed
If you want to level up your home workout, invest in just a few basic pieces of equipment over time. Resistance bands are ideal for the strength training variety. A simple jump rope allows awesome cardio routines. And a basic set of dumbbells opens up tons of additional exercise options.
You can even get creative with household objects. Canned goods or water bottles work as weights for arm exercises. Books or towels can substitute for sliders. A backpack filled with heavy items lets you add load to bodyweight moves.
Budget-Friendly Gym Memberships
Having a full gym membership can seriously put a strain on your monthly budget. There are definitely still ways to get that gym access without emptying your wallet completely.
Look for Promotions
Gyms are always trying to enrol new members with promotions. Be on the lookout for ones offering discounted enrollment fees upfront or even a couple of months free. Taking advantage of deals like that can make a huge difference in those initial costs.
You just have to be a little patient and keep your eyes peeled for the right promos. Maybe even hit up the gym staff and straight up ask if they have any sign-up deals for new members coming up soon. A little friendliness can go a long way!
The key is not feeling pressured to blindly sign up at full price. Shop around, compare packages, and leverage any sign-up specials you can find. With some bargain hunting, you won’t have to spend your entire budget to get that gym membership.
Affordable Fitness Classes
A lot of studios and trainers offer live-streamed sessions at super affordable prices. Whether you’re into yoga, Zumba, strength training, or more, a quick search pulls up a lot of choices.
Local Community Center Classes
Don’t overlook your local community centres for cheap class options too. They typically have a packed schedule of exercise classes from cycling to dance fitness to bootcamps. Membership rates are usually extremely reasonable!
Free Trial Passes for New Members
When signing up for a new gym or studio membership, always ask about free trial class passes. Most places will let you sample a week or two of classes on the house before officially joining. It’s the perfect way to test-drive and see if you vibe with their workouts and instructors.
Getting social and taking group classes keeps things fun and motivating. But you don’t have to shell out major bucks to enjoy that experience. Get creative with online offerings, community resources, and free trials. Your body and budget will be great!
Second-Hand Gear
Why pay full price for workout things when you can find used gems for way less? Getting smart about finding second-hand gear is a total money-saver.
Search Online
The internet is great for finding affordable, used fitness items. Check sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. People are always upgrading and selling their old weights, bikes, treadmills, and more for cheap. Just look closely before buying!
Garage Sales
Good old garage sales and yard sales can have workout treasures too. You never know when somebody’s barely used exercise stuff might be priced really low. Watch for big community sales in your area.
Local Buy/Sell Groups
These days, there are also lots of local buy/sell groups on Facebook for different towns. Join yours and keep an eye out for gym equipment postings. You can even search for things like “dumbbells” or “treadmills.”
With some looking around, you can build an affordable home gym setup with second-hand finds. No need to spend a lot on brand new!
Group Workouts
Exercising with others is such a great way to stay motivated and mix up your fitness routine. But group classes and memberships can get pricey. The solution? Organise your own affordable group workouts!
Organise Fitness Groups with Friends
Gather a crew of friends or coworkers and create your own workout squad. Take turns leading bodyweight circuit workouts at a park or someone’s home gym. Not only is it free, but having a set schedule helps keep everyone accountable.
Join Local Running Clubs or Sports Leagues
See if your community has any free running clubs or casual recreational sports leagues you can join. It’s an easy way to meet new people and get social while being active. Many towns have pickup basketball, soccer, or softball leagues for little to no cost.
Group Discounts for Classes
If you do want to take actual fitness classes, see if the studio offers group discounts. Most will give a percentage off the regular price if you can get a small group to sign up together. Combining forces shrink the per-person cost significantly.
Getting sweaty with others makes workouts way more enjoyable. With a bit of planning, you can absolutely recreate that communal experience without going broke!
Getting Loans
Having bad credit sucks. It makes so many things harder – getting approved for loans, finding a decent place to live, you name it. But don’t lose hope just yet! There are lenders out there who can help people with very poor credit scores.
These “direct lenders” don’t just look at your low credit number and immediately reject you. They take a deeper look at your overall money situation – your income, assets, and how you’re staying afloat. That means you’ve got a real shot at getting the cash you need, even with an ugly credit history.
Getting very bad credit loans from direct lenders can be the jump-start you need to get back on track. Yeah, the money helps cover bills and such. But the best part is making payments on time to slowly but surely boost up your crappy score over time.
Conclusion
Take advantage of free outdoor activities like walking, running, or hiking. Exploring local parks and trails is an easy way to exercise for zero cost.
At home, bodyweight exercises like pushups, squats, and lunges require zero equipment. Find workout videos on YouTube for endless routine variety. Invest in just a few basic pieces of gear over time as your budget allows. Adjustable dumbbells give you multiple weight levels in one compact set.